Electric switch



Aug. 19, 1930. a. J. MEUER 1,773,595

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 24, 1929 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 19, 1930 UNITED STATES GEORGE J. MEUER, OF MILWAUKEE,WISCONSIN,

F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A

ELECTRIC Application filed April 24, 1

This invention relates to improvements in electric switches.

An object of the invention is to improve and simplify the details ofconstruction and operation of such switches.

Another object is to provide a quick ecting; switch the parts of Whichare of strong end durable construetionand of such form as to facilitateassembly thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel form and arrangement of thestationary and bridging contacts of the switch.

Other objects end advantages of the in Vention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the inventionwhich will now be described, it being understood that the embodimentillustrated is susceptible of H1OCll iication in certain respectswithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as deiincdby the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a switchconstructed in accordance with my invention,--certein of the parts beingshown in elevation.

Fig, 2 is a similar View at substantially right angles to the section oiig, 1..

S is a bottom plan view of the switch. n in Figs, 1 and f2.

is a plan view oi the that punched sting dislr or base,

is a perspective view of the roller diet or bridgino" member and certainof the actuating parts therefor, said ports being n in separatedrelation.

1g. 8 is a perspective View of one oi. the s'gationary contacts of theswitch together certain parts to be associated therewith, arts beingshown in separated relation,

, "Z is a perspective View of another of c tionary contacts.

rring to the drawings, the numeral 10 ignates a relatively thin butrelatively l disk or plate, of suitable insulating nos-- 7 uch asbeltelite; said disk being provi with three spaced sets of openings (asbest shown in Fig. 4), each set comprising a, pair of openings Ill andan intermediate rela tiveiy larger opening 12. Disk 10 is further ASSIGNOR TO CUTLER-HAMMER, INCL, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SWITCH 1929. SerialN0. 357,820.

provided With a notches 13. skilled in the plurality of short radial Aswill be apparent to those art the completely notched and perforated disk10 may be formed by a single punching operation from sheet insulation ofthe desired thickness.

The manner of assembling contacts and their terminal plates with respectto the insulating disk is in general similar to that described in myprior Patent No. 1,666,338, dated April '17, 1928. However, in thepresent instance, the relatively narrow depending lugs 14? of the twoll-shaped end contactsllare oiiset slightly with respect to the centerline of the main body Of the latter, as best shown in Figs. 3; and 7 andsaid contacts it which are identical in form are merely reversed inposition to provide a predetermined relatively narrow space between theedges l4? thereof and the opposed edges 15 of the intermediatestationary contact 15. This arrangement further permits s'ufiicientspacing of the three sets of openin s ll, 12 to provide proper specingof the respective terminal plates 16.

The three terminal plates 16 ere identical in form andeach is providedwith pair of the stationary ppenings l? to register with one set of opening's ll in dish: 1% and a tapped opening; 1'8 which is slightly smallerthen but registers with one of the openings The usual bind ing screws 19into said openings 18 and the shanlrs tliereoii are accommodated byopenings 12..

The ll-shaped i terinediate stationery contest 15 is in general similarto the contacts l i, it will be noted that the height of the contact 15above the shouldered portions 315" (formed by the depending; lugs Flo isslight ly less than the height oi the shouldered portions li oi thelatter, Hence the upper surface of contact 15 will be slightly offsetdownwardly with it spect to the upper iiat surfaces of contacts M, asbest illustrated. in. Fig. 1. Thus the lugs I l and 15 are passedthrough several sets of registering openings 11 and 1? in disk 10 andterminal plates 16, and said lugs are then bent outwardly to secure thecontacts 1 above position.

contacts and their respective terminal plates to the insulating disk.

A. strip of conite or similar flexibleinsulating material, bent toU-shape as shown, is preferably clamped between the intermediateterminal plate and disk 10,-the projecting ends 2O of said stripproviding against accidental contact of wire beards with each other orwith the adjacent terminal plates upon wiring of the switch.

t will be noted that the upper surface of intermediate contact 15 is cutaway throughout the entire length of said surface to provide the opposededges 15 which are spaced apart substantially the same distancehorizontally as the opposed edges 14?, 15 aforedescribed.

The movable contact as shown may comprise a roller having twocylindrical end portions 21 and 22 and a relatively smaller cylindricalconnecting portion 23 preferably integral therewith. The actuating meansfor the roller contact includes a substantially Y- shaped insulatingmember 24, the arms 25 and 26 of which are adapted to straddle theconnecting portion 23 of the movable contact; and the end 27 of thereduced portion 28 of said insulating member is adapted for engagementwith the lower end of acoiled compression spring 29. As shown, theinsulating member 27 may be punched from a sheet of insulating materialhaving the desired characteristics of substantial rigidity anddurability.

The spring 29 and the shank 28 of member 27 are inserted sequentiallyinto the hollow or counterbored end 30 of an actuating lever 31. Lever31 is provided with a pivot pin 32, which is freely insertable withindiametrically opposed openings 33 in a hollow bushing 34,-the oppositeends of said pivot pin being thereafter preferably upset as indicated at32 to wedge or retain said pin in The upper portion of lever 31 istapered toward the upper end of the bush- .ing, as indicated at 31whereby in opposite extreme positions of the'lever the respectivetapered sides thereof lie substantially parallel to the vertical innerwall of the bushing. This arrangement provides a sturdy pivotal bearingfor the lever 31 and at the same time tends to prevent ingress of dustparticles or other foreign matter into the switch chamber.

Extending outwardly beyond the bushing 31 is a knob 35 to provide formanual operation of the switch. Said knob may be of any desired form,but as shown at 35 the sides thereof converge inwardly toward thetapered sides 31. As will be noted the lower end of bushing 3a isprovided with two relatively larger bores in stepped relation to eachother to accommodate the oscillating lower end 30 of lever 31 and tolimit the oscillating movement of the latter, as best illustrated inFig. 1.

The lower end of bushing 34 is provided with a shoulder 36 and a reducedportion 37 to accommodate the perforation 38 in the upper end of asubstantially hemispherical metallic housing member 39,-said reducedportion 37 being spun over or upset as shown to rigidly secure saidbushing and housing to each other.

The diameter of housing 39 is substantially the same as the diameter ofdisk 10, and said housing is preferably provided with a plurality ofintegral lugs or projections 10 which enter the notches 13 and are thenbent inwardly to rigidly secure the disk and the parts carried therebywith respect to the housing. As will be understood, such assembly of thedisk and housing and their cooperating parts will result in a slightcompression of the spring 29, such as to definitely maintain the movablecontact in'any selected one of its three positions.

The upper .end of bushing 3a is exteriorly threaded, as indicated at 41,for cooperation with the usual clamping nut. A second nut or threadedwasher i3 is provided, to act either as a lock nut or as an adjustmentto provide for flush attachment of the switch to panels or supports ofdifferent thicknesses.

The switch illustrated is of the three-position type whereby the same ismovable from its intermediate off position to extreme positions toselectively control a plurality of circuits. It will be understood,however, that one of the end contacts might be omitted and the two otherstationary contacts shifted slightly to providea switch for controllingthe continuity of a single circuit,- in which event the degree ofoscillation of the actuating lever between opposite extreme positionswould likewise preferably be reduced.

As best illustrated in Fig. 1, there is a slight amount of lateral lostmotion between the hollow end 30 of the actuating lever and the shank 28of insulating member 2%. Hence the initial effect of movement of knob 35from right to left is to increase the degree of compression of spring29, so that after said hollow end 30 engages the shank 28 for positivemovement of the latter, sufficient energy will have been stored in thespring 29 to effect quick or soap movement of member 2 1 and thecontactor engaged thereby to its next or intermediate position. Also itwill be apparent that if desired the movable contact may be quicklytransferred from one extreme position to the other by a single continuedmovement of the actuating lever.

While I have shown a switch having a relatively long bushing and acorrespondingly elongated actuating lever, it will be understood thatthe lengththereof might be reduced if desired. The use of a movableroller contact adapted to engage the horizontal edges of the stationarycontacts has many.

obvious advantages, including positive bridging action of the movablecontact and ease of travel of the latter between its operative andinoperative positions.

What I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch. he combination with a cup-shaped metallichousing, a thin insulating base plate closing one end of said housing,means integral with said housing for securing said base plate thereto, aplurality of stationary contacts secured to said base plate and havingtheir contact surfaces spaced from each other and from the inner face ofsaid base plate, a metallic bushing secured to the other end of saidhousing, an actuating lever pivoted within said bushing and having oneend projecting therefrom, the other end of said lever having acounterbore to receive a compression spring and the shank of aninsulating member, and a substantially from the inner face of an l baseplate closing cylindrical roller contact cooperatively engaged by saidinsulating member, said actuating lever being adapted upon osclilationthereof to effect compression of said spring and to thereafterpositively move'said insul'ating member whereby said roller contact isquickly moved from one position to another selectively.

2. In an electric switch, the combination with a metallic housing,a'thin insulating one end of said housing, deformable lugs integral withsaid housing for securing said base plate thereto, a plurality ofstationary contacts secured to said base platevand having flat surfacesspaced said base plate, the adjacent edges of said contacts beinghorizontally spaced from each other, an externally threaded metallicbushing secured to the other end of said housing, a metallic actuatinglever pivoted within said bushing and aving an operating knob or handleprojecting therefrom, the'circumference of said actuating lever at thepivot point thereof being substantially as great as the innercircumference of said bushing whereby entrance of foreign matter intothe switch chamber is prevented, the other end of said lever extendingsubstantially to the lower end of said bushing and having a relativelylong counterbore to receive a compression spring and the shank of aY-shaped insulating member, and a cylindrical metallic member having areduced portion to be engaged by said insulating member, whereby saidcylindrical member is movable with a quick action into bridgingengagement with the adjacent edges of said stationary contacts oralternatively into en-- gagement with only one of said stationarycontacts according to the position of said actuating lever. N

3. In an electric switch, in combination, an insulating base, aplurality of inverted U- shaped contact members secured to said base,-

- engagement with the intermediate aforementioned ing two terial and"the arms thereof a substantially cylindrical contactor adapted to seatwithin said cut awayportion and engaging theedges of the latter toresist movement of the contactor 'and'the adjacent edges of the contactsbeing spaced to receive said contactor, tactor comprising a pivotedleverhaving a counterbore in one end thereof, a coiled compressionspring within said counterbore, and a member having one end looselyfitting within said counterbore and engaging said spring, the other endof said member being adapted to straddle said contactor, said partsbeing assembled with said spring normally slightly compressed and thearrangement being such that upon movement of said lever the spring isadditionally compressed and the contactor thereafter positively movedwhereby the energy stored in said to complete such movement tion.

4. In an electric switch, in combination, a relatively thin butrelatively rigid flat base plate of insulating material, threesubstantially U-shaped contact members secured to said base plate, theflat contact portions of said members being spaced from the inner faceof said base and the adjacent edges of said contact portions beingspaced horizontally from each other, a substantially cylindricalcontactor movable into and out of bridging engagement with the adjacentedges of said contacts or alternatively into stationary contact only,said intermediate contact having a cut away portion'providing spacededges to receive and retain said contactor, an actuating lever foreifecting movement of spring is utilized with a quick acactuating meansfor said con- I said contactor, means for effecting such movement with aquick action,'said means comprising an insulating member having aportion straddling said contactor and a portion slidable within one endof said lever, a compression spring interposed between said lever andsaid insulating member to bias said contactor, and means for supportingthe parts'in assembled relation. .5. In an electric switch, incombination, a punched plate of relatively thin but relatively rigidinsulating material,saidjp'late h ving a plurality. of, space -setsctiper lrati n in. p r ll 1 elat on; B a h; set @6 1 ris- .end p foratin and a .re at sly larger t ed ate p rf rat n;- 'ph allty ill) ice

of terminal plates underlyingsaid insulatg P a and, h v g perf ret ens;eg stering with the respective SQtSI OIPQIffQIQZlZIQ IiS, a p ra y ofsust ntial yll-Shap d n membersov rlyiagl i ins l ing'pl tei'sai -fpedmemhe sh s rmed tstrip mahav'irigredued end portions to penetratecertain of the registering openings in said insulating and terminalplates, the reduced end portions of said U-shaped members being bentover said terminal plates to secure all of said parts in assembledrelation, the contact portions of certain of said U-shaped members beingspaced different distances from said insulating plate to provide apredetermined relationship between the adjacent edges of said contacts,one perforation in each of said terminal plates being tapped to receivea binding screw, a flexible insulating strip interposed between one ofsaid terminal plates and said insulating plate, said strip havingprojecting portions providing barriers between said ter minal plates, aspring biased roller contactor movable with a quick action into and outof bridging relation to the adjacent edges of said stationary contacts,an oscillatable lever for effecting such movements of said contactor,and means for supporting all of said parts in assembled relation. 7

6. In an electric switch, in combination, a punched plate of relativelythin but relatively rigid insulating material, said plate having threeequally spaced sets of perforations in parallel relation, each setcomprising two end perforations and a relatively larger intermediateperforation, three metallic terminal plates underlying said insulatingplate and having perforations registering with the respective sets ofperforations, three substantially ll-shaped contact members formed ofstrip material and overlying said insulating plate, the arms of saidU-shaped members having reduced portions to penetrate the end openingsin each set and in each terminal plate whereby the contact portions ofsaid 'U-shaped members are spaced predetermined distances from saidinsulating plate, the re duced portions of said U-shaped members beingbent outwardlyover said terminal plates to secure said parts 1nassembled relation, and

. termediate stationary contact a spring biased rollercontactor movableselectively to opposite extreme positions into bridging engagement withthe adjacent edges of said stationary contacts or alternatively into anintermediate position wherein it engages one of said stationary contactsonly.

7. In an electric switch, in combination, a thin fiat disk of insulatingmaterial, an inand a stationary end contact on each side thereof, eachof said contacts comprising a strip of sheet metal bent to invertedU-shape and having flat contact surfaces, the arms of said U- shapedstrips having end portions of reduced width to penetrate correspondingopenings in said disk, the contact surfaces of said end contacts beinglocated in a plane slightly above the plane of said intermediatecontact, the re duced end portions of said end contacts being offsetlaterally with respect to the center line Of the contact portionsthereof whereby all of said contacts may be attached to terminal platesof predetermined width, the adjacent edges of said center and endcontactsbeing spaced apart a predetermined distance and the surface ofsaid center contact being cut away to provide opposet edges spaced aparta corresponding distance, a roller contact movable selectively intobridging engagement with the adjacent edges of said end and centercontacts or alternatively into engagement with the opposed edges of saidcut away portion of the center contact, actuating means for said rollercontact comprising an oscillatable lever having a counterbore, aninsulating member having one end thereof in positive driving engagementwith said roller contact and its other end in loose telescopicengagement with said counter-bore, and a spring interposed between saidlever and said insulating member to bias said roller contact intoengagement with said center contact in all positions of said rollercontact.

8. In an electric switch, in combination, a flat base plate ofinsulating material, a plurality of inverted secured to said base, saidelements having flat contact faces and one of said elements having itscontact face cut away longitudinally, a substantially cylindricalcontactor adapted to seat within said cut away portion and engaging theopposed edges of the latter to resist movement of the contactor, theadjacent edges of the contact elements being also spaced to receive saidcontactor, actuating means for said contactor comprising an oscillatablelever having a counterbore in one end thereof, a coiled compressionspring within said counterbore, and an insulating member having one endtelescopically fitting within said counterbore and engaging said spring,the other end of said insulating member engaging said contactor, saidparts being assembled with said spring normally slightly compressed, andthe adjacent spaced edges of said contact elements being arranged atdifferent heights with respect to the base plate, whereby the normalcompression of said spring is maintained substantially constant in eachoperative and inoperative position of said contactor.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GEORGE J. MEUER.

U-shaped contact elements lit)

